A search is continuing for a man who is missing after jumping into the Horsepasture River on Monday.The 36-year-old man was at Turtleback Falls with friends in an area where swimming is allowed. They told police the man jumped off the rocks, but when he resurfaced he appeared to be in distress.His friends said he resurfaced twice, before sinking below the surface for good.The Lake Toxaway Assistant fire Chief Brian Gill said they are operating under the theory that the missing swimmer is under water.Swift water rescue teams from Henderson, Transylvania, and Jackson counties helped search for the swimmer until 8 p.m.Crews gathered at the falls at 9 a.m. Tuesday to resume the search.Rescue officials say the water at Turtleback Falls is running 3 to 4 feet higher than normal due to recent rains.Assistant Fire Chief Brian Gill said the plan is to search using inflatable boats with underwater cameras and poles."The biggest concern right now is the safety of the guys with the water being up as high as it is," Gill said.Steve Pagano, park superintendent of Gorges State Park, said, "The rivers are higher, there's more turbulence in it, you've got more watershed draining into the area, more water rushing down , more current, it just makes the danger level just increase dramatically."There is a swim-at-your-own-risk policy on the river.Pagano said this is the ninth drowning he can remember in the 14 years he's worked there.The road leading to the Turtleback Falls area of Gorges State Park is closed.Visitors to the park are being told the area is off limits until further notice. An employee at the visitors' center said they did not want guests there while crews searched the waters.The plan Tuesday is to continue the search until they find the man's body, it gets dark or storms move in.

TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, N.C. —

A search is continuing for a man who is missing after jumping into the Horsepasture River on Monday.

The 36-year-old man was at Turtleback Falls with friends in an area where swimming is allowed. They told police the man jumped off the rocks, but when he resurfaced he appeared to be in distress.

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His friends said he resurfaced twice, before sinking below the surface for good.

The Lake Toxaway Assistant fire Chief Brian Gill said they are operating under the theory that the missing swimmer is under water.

Swift water rescue teams from Henderson, Transylvania, and Jackson counties helped search for the swimmer until 8 p.m.

Crews gathered at the falls at 9 a.m. Tuesday to resume the search.

Rescue officials say the water at Turtleback Falls is running 3 to 4 feet higher than normal due to recent rains.

Assistant Fire Chief Brian Gill said the plan is to search using inflatable boats with underwater cameras and poles.

"The biggest concern right now is the safety of the guys with the water being up as high as it is," Gill said.

Steve Pagano, park superintendent of Gorges State Park, said, "The rivers are higher, there's more turbulence in it, you've got more watershed draining into the area, more water rushing down , more current, it just makes the danger level just increase dramatically."

There is a swim-at-your-own-risk policy on the river.

Pagano said this is the ninth drowning he can remember in the 14 years he's worked there.

The road leading to the Turtleback Falls area of Gorges State Park is closed.

Visitors to the park are being told the area is off limits until further notice. An employee at the visitors' center said they did not want guests there while crews searched the waters.

The plan Tuesday is to continue the search until they find the man's body, it gets dark or storms move in.